Pune: Former BJP MLA and current Legislative Council Member Yogesh Pundlik Tilekar has remained steadfastly loyal to his party despite a narrow defeat in the last assembly election. His dedication and effective fulfillment of responsibilities entrusted by the party have now been recognized and rewarded.
Tilekar's political journey began with a victory in the 2014 assembly elections from the Hadapsar constituency, and he now serves as a member of the Legislative Council. This moment marks a pinnacle of joy in his political career, tracing his path from a classroom monitor to a legislative leader.
Tilekar's early education was completed in a local school in Kondhwa village, followed by high school in Bhosari. His mother, Ranjana Tilekar, had always envisioned a bright future for him, while his father, Pundlik Dada Tilekar, instilled in him the value of perseverance. In the fifth grade, Yogesh joined the RSS, where he began to develop his understanding of social and political service.
An excellent student and an accomplished Kho-Kho player, Tilekar demonstrated organizational skills early on, starting with his involvement in the Patit Pavan Sanghatana during his 12th grade. In 1994, he founded the Janhit Seva Sanghatana, organizing various competitions, guidance camps, and cleanliness drives in his village, gradually gaining public support.
Tilekar's formal political career began in 1996 when he became the BJP's Kondhwa village president. He held several positions, including secretary of the Hadapsar Youth Wing and general secretary in 2000. In 2002, his mother, Ranjana Tilekar, contested and won the municipal election, marking the beginning of the family's political legacy.
Despite facing opposition and challenges, Tilekar persisted. In 2007, he won a significant victory in the municipal elections, re-establishing his position. During the 2009 assembly elections, he worked diligently for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance candidate. In 2012, he contested and won the Pune Municipal Corporation elections with a substantial margin. In 2014, after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance broke, he won the Hadapsar assembly seat.
Tilekar's tenure as a municipal councilor and MLA was marked by notable achievements, including the establishment of water tanks, parks, and other infrastructure projects in Kondhwa and Hadapsar. Despite a narrow defeat in the 2019 assembly elections, he continued to serve as the state president of the BJP's youth wing and OBC wing, strengthening the party's organization statewide.
Reflecting on his journey, Tilekar states, "In politics and social work, struggles are inevitable, but maintaining a connection with the people ensures success."